(1)The Secretary of State may give the HCA general or specific directions as to the exercise of any of its functions.
(2)The Secretary of State must publish any directions given by the Secretary of State under this Part as soon as reasonably practicable after giving them.
(3)The Secretary of State—
(a)may revoke any directions given by the Secretary of State under this Part, and
(b)must publish the fact that the directions have been revoked as soon as reasonably practicable after the revocation.
(4)The HCA must comply with any directions of the Secretary of State in force under this Part.
(5)Subsections (2) and (3)(b) do not apply to directions given under section 22 or paragraph 7 of Schedule 1; and this section does not apply to directions given under Schedule 4.
(6)References in this Part to the Secretary of State giving directions include references to the Secretary of State giving directions by varying existing directions.